Washington Post: Government Powers Should Never Be Used For Partisan Purposes

Let’s jump way back in time to the beginning of the week. Some guy said this at a commencement ceremony.

PRESIDENT (NMP) OBAMA: Unfortunately, you’ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that’s at the root of all our problems. Some of these same voices also do their best to gum up the works. They’ll warn that tyranny always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. Because what they suggest is that our brave, and creative, and unique experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we can’t be trusted.

Flip to a surprising piece by the editorial board of the Washington Post

A BEDROCK principle of U.S. democracy is that the coercive powers of government are never used for partisan purpose. The law is blind to political viewpoint, and so are its enforcers, most especially the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service. Any violation of this principle threatens the trust and the voluntary cooperation of citizens upon which this democracy depends.

It’s almost as disturbing that people within the Obama administration went after the Benghazi whistleblowers. Almost as disturbing as rewriting talking points 12 times to scrub any mention of terrorism in Benghazi, then going on a two week tear blaming a video. Almost as disturbing as Obama’s incompetence on economic issues. Almost as disturbing as forcing religious institutions to cover contraception and abortifacients against their conscience. Almost as disturbing as walking guns into Mexico with no intention to track them. Almost as disturbing as violating American’s 2nd Amendment Rights. Almost as disturbing as his foreign policy……wait, it’s all just as disturbing.

Politicians have long used the coercive power of government for partisan purposes, particularly Democrats, and particularly Mr. Obama. It’s no wonder the IRS felt emboldened to target right side groups with the rhetoric emanating out of the White House. Their ultimate boss has had no problem targeting political opponents, especially private citizens and entities. Why should the IRS worry? Heck, senior IRS officials knew of the intentional targeting.

The WP goes on to write that there should be congressional inquiries, and that”Obama also should guarantee an unimpeachably independent inquiry.” Remember that when the hearings start and WP writers, particularly in the opinion pages, target Republicans for holding the hearings.

And remember that we should reject the voices which state that tyranny is just around the corner. Because it is already here.